Switch and signal locking apparatus



(No Moae1.) 4 0. GASSET'T.

SWITGH AND SIGNAL LOCKING APPARATUS.

N0. 256,797. Patented Apr. 18,1882

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.Y

OSCAR GASSETT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR lTO THE UNION SWITCHAND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL LOCKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of `Letters Patent No. 256,797, dated April18, 1582.`

Application filed February 18, 1852. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concrrn:

Be it known thatl, .OSCAR GASSETT, of Boston, county of Suffolk, Stateof Massachusetts, temporarily residing at Sewickley, county ofAllegheny, State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new anduseful Improvement in Switch and Signal Locking Apparatus; and I dohereby declare .the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings,making a part of this specitication, in whichlike letters indicatinglike parts-` Fignre l shows in elevation such parts ot anelectrically-locked switch-shifting mechanism as are necessary toillustrate my present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of Fig.1, taken a little to the right of the central vertical plane; and Fig. 3illustrates by diagram the manner of applying or using the presentimprovement in combination with a railwaytrack circuit.

My present invention relates to an improved apparatus for electricallylocking or unlocking the switch or signal shifting lever of a railwayswitch or signal apparatus, whereby the reversal of the switch orsignal, after it is once properly set and after the train shall haveentered upon the track-circuit, shall be effect ually prevented; andwhile I include as of my invention the application of the mechanismherein described to signal-lookin g purposes, I have for convenience ofillustration more particularly shown it as arranged in connection with aswitch-actuating lever.

A represents the lower end of a bent lever such as is employedextensively in signal and switch cabins, (commonlyin thesecond story,)and at A', I have shown the lower ends of the hangers. Avertically-moving rod, B, is em ploycd to transmit the lever motionthrough a bell-crank, B', tol the switch-rod B2, which may be of anyknown construction and connected in any known way with the movable railsr of the switch. (See Fig. 3.)

At D, Fig. 3, I have illustrated a convenient position ofthe cabinwherein this apparatus may be arranged, along with other like apparatusas may be desired, and for purposes of illustration I will assu me thepresence of a like lever, as at s, by which to set the home and or isliable to pass the switch for a greater or less distance before comingto a full stop, that the switch so set -ne locked in such way that theswitchman cannot, through carelessness, forgetfulness, or otherwise,reverse the switch at a time when it is too late to stop the train. Tosecure this desirable end I arrange on the vertical rod B a stop orshoulder, a, in suitable position to be engaged by a hook, c2, made onthe armature-lever c of the armature c of an electro-magnet, P, whichlatter may be arranged in position and supported on the framing I orother suitable support. These dcvices are so arranged that when theelectromaguet P is excited or charged it will attract the armature c,and thereby cause the hook c2 to clear the stop a, and when theelectro-magnet ceases to be excited or charged the hook c2 will, underthe action of a spring, e, be thrown forward into engagement with thestop a, and thereby the rod B will be locked as against a movementupward. These devices-that is to say, a stop and an armature-leveradapted to engage the same-ma y be varied at pleasure iu form,construction, and relative arrangement with reference to engaging eachother, and thereby locking the rod B as against movement either upwardor downward, as the work to be done may require; but as organized inthedrawings therodBis presumed to be down, and the switch thereby to bein position' for the reception of the incoming train.

The stop a may be secured to the rod B in any desired way, as by clampsand screw-bolts c' or otherwise.

The preferable-mode of using the devices described is as illustrated inFig. 3, whereinl have shown a track-circuit formed by the line of railsw x, electrically connected one rail to another, to any desireddistance-say to or pastthe distant signal-and the track-section thusformed is electrically insulated at its ends by suitable insulatingmaterial, as at av. The opposite lines of rails are connected at or neartheir outer ends, by wires l and 2, with the opposite poles of abattery, d, and at or near their opposite ends, by wires 3 and 4, withthe opposite ends ofthe coils of the electro-magnet I?. Hence anormally-closed track-circuit is thus formed which normally will holdthe hook e2 clear of the stop a; but, assuming the switch to be properlyset for the reception of an incoming train, as soon as the forward 'endof such train enters on the track-section it sliertcircuits thetrack-circuit, so as to cut out the magnet P from the intiuence of thebattery d. The result will be that the hook c2 will engage the stop a,and the rod B, and with it the lever A and the switch, will be securelylocked in position, so that the switch cannot be shifted or reverseduntil the train shall have passed entirely off the track-sectionreferred to. The circuit then being restored through the magnet, thelever and switch will be unlocked.

As the lever affords means of bringing a severe strain on the hook c2, Iguard against breakage by carrying a stirrup, n, over the end of thearmaturelevcr, and pivot the latter by a slot, i', so as to enable thearmature-lever to work clear of the stirrup n in its movements, and atthe same time be supported by the stirrup when any unusual strain is puton the 1ever A. The same apparatus may be applied in like manner to asignal-lever, if so desired, by connecting the wires 3 4 with anelectromagnet properly arranged, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in relationto the connecting-rod of such signal-lever; and the stop ce ma)7 bearranged in any of the connecting-rods of the mechanism of the kind orclass referred to.

I do not claim herein, broadly, the invention of operating the lock of aswitch or signal lever by electricity; but

What I do claim is- 1. In combination with the connecting-rod ofalswitcll. or signal operating mechanism, a

stop, a, arranged on such rod, an armaturc-Y o lever arranged to engagewith and be disengaged from such stop, an electro-magnet, battery, andtrackicircuit, substantially as set forth.

2. The stirrup n, in combination with armature-lever o and stop a on redB, substantially as set forth. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

OSCAR GASSETT.

Witnesses:

R. H. WHITTLESEY, A GEORGE' H. CHRISTY.

